The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-09
A PUBLIC OUTRAGE.

The removal of DR.. Fletcher, superintend-
ent of the Insane Hospital, will cause storm
of indignation but not much surprise. The
event has been foreshadowed for some time
past. 1t has been an open secret for several
months that there was bad state of feeling
between the superintendent and the trustees,
and an utter lack of harmony in the internal
| management of the hospital. This dates
from the investigation of last winter which
resulted in such damaging disclosures of the
disgraceful management of the institution.
In fact it probably had its origin even further
back, when DIR. Fletcher became so thoroughly
Disguised with the state of affairs that self
respect and sense of public duty compelled
him to oppose, far as he properly and safely
could, the ruinous policy of the Harrison
gime. 1t has appeared to many of the friends
of good government and those who hold the
welfare Of the institution at heart, that DIR.
Fletcher erred in not taking earlier and
holder stand than ne did against the scandal
Gus practices of the Harrison ring and the
gross prostitution of one of the States noblest
benevolences. He certainly would have rem
dered a public service by making complete
expose of the whole business. But due
allowance must be made for conflicting inter-
ests and the obvious difficulties of his situa-
ton. He deserves credit for having, in the
first instance, called attention to the existence
of shameful abuses and of having pointed,
if he did not lead the way, to their exposure.
He could hardly have incurred the hostility
of the board in more intense degree by
making open war them than he did by
simply refusing to cooperate with them.
His removal was inevitable, and only a ques-
ton of time. The act itself is high handed
outrage and an insult to the people of the
State. We say this not because of any per-
sonal injury it involves to Dr. Fletcher-that
is of small public account-but because of
the circumstances under which it is done. It
is the arbitrary act of corrupt and irrespon-
sible ring, done for the purpose of establishing
its complete control over the largest institu-
ton in the State and placing it's entire man
agement on basis of the lowest and dirtiest
partisan politics. To accomplish this it was
necessary for the board to have a superintend-
ent who not only would not oppose them in
any respect but who would heartily cooper
ate with them in the work of subordinating
the institution to the interests of corrupt
ring As to what that involves, the public
can judge in part at least from the develop
ments made by the investigation last winter.
Although conducted under great difficulties,
that investigation proved the existence of
frauds that ought to send the perpetrators to
the penitentiary, and of abuses that made
honest mems fingers itch to get at the rascals
who practiced them. The perpetrators of
these frauds and abuses are now in absolute
control of Indiana's greatest and noblest char
ity. Like the maggots in the butter furnished
the unfortunate inmates, they have wiggled
their shiny way to the top, and now occupy a
position of undisputed power in place where
they can do unlimited harm.
Ring rule will now have undisputed sway,
and the unsavory crew that has been i'm
patiently waiting for this event will hold high
carnival